Assam's Tree Cover Vanishes: A Stark Warning

Assam has lost an estimated 3,600 sq km of tree cover since 2001. This figure is equivalent to the total loss recorded across 19 Indian states and one Union Territory during the same period, highlighting a critical deforestation crisis. While other states like Karnataka and Chhattisgarh have also experienced significant tree cover decline, their losses do not approach Assam's scale.

The hilly districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are disproportionately affected, accounting for 62% of the state's total tree cover loss over the past 25 years. Karbi Anglong alone lost 1,300 sq km, with Dima Hasao losing 900 sq km. This extensive deforestation raises serious questions about land-use changes, infrastructure expansion, and ecological pressures.

Conservationists warn that such widespread loss in a biodiversity-rich state could have severe consequences for wildlife, climate resilience, and flood patterns. The data emphasizes the urgent need for state-specific conservation strategies and intensified intervention in Assam. The state government has initiated programs like the CM's Climate Resilient Village Fellowship Programme and undertaken afforestation efforts covering over 163 sq km between 2010-11 and 2025-26.